Tom Blomqvist has enjoyed a lights to flag win this morning as the second race of the weekend’s FIA Formula Three European Championship got underway at a sunny Imola. Blomqvist, who had started at the very front, controlled the race throughout the 20 laps to take a brilliant win. Blomqvist was joined on the podium by Antonio Giovinazzi who, in the closing laps, had a big battle for position with Max Verstappen as the pair crossed the line; meaning the Italian racer came home in third. Gelael, who was out of position following a disrupted qualifying session yesterday, took 16th as the chequered flag fell.
As the lights went out in Imola Blomqvist, who had inherited pole position from Max Verstappen yesterday, launched off the line perfectly and held the lead – however it was all action behind him as team mate Antonio Giovinazzi, who had started in third, began to attack Esteban Ocon. The Italian fought hard and confidently made the move stick and was soon close behind his team mate.
Meanwhile Gelael, who was unable to get a flying lap in during the disrupted late qualifying session yesterday, was looking forward to once again working his way up through the field. Off the line he had also enjoyed a solid start and at the end of lap one was running in 13th position.
At the front Blomqvist and Giovinazzi had pulled an easy lead over the rest of the field however their advantage was to be cut short when a safety car was called to deal with the stricken car of Alexander Toril. This was a long job and the Italian circuit was under full yellows for a number of laps while the car was safely removed however when the field was free to race Blomqvist resumed his lead and once again pulled a gap.
Behind, Giovinazzi followed him and the pair led the race trouble-free over the next few laps. However Gelael, who was running in the mid-field, found himself caught up in a number of battles as the field jostled for position – this in turn saw him change places numerous times as he battled with Roy Nissany among others.
But at the very front Blomqvist had enjoyed a relatively uneventful race and came home to clinch a brilliant lights to flag victory. Blomqvist said of his race, ‘It was an awesome race for us! I technically inherited the pole position from Max [Verstappen] but I gave him two poles earlier in the season because of the same engine penalty so we can’t complain! We definitely had the pace advantage over the field and that was clear because Antonio [Giovinazzi] was up there with me. It was a case of just not making any mistakes with the Safety Car being the only hurdle. The car was great and it feels amazing to get the win.’
Giovinazzi, who in the final few laps had started to come under pressure from Max Verstappen, was fighting with the Red Bull Junior and had him all over his back. This fight continued until the very end with Verstappen taking second and Giovinazzi third as the pair crossed the line.
Gelael had also found himself caught in numerous battles and the Indonesian racer crossed the line in 16th position overall following a hard fought race for the whole team. Gelael said, ‘The start was good and even though I was squeezed a little bit I didn’t lose any positions however because of where I was, I was in the middle of so many battles! Everything seemed to happen in that race; I was squeezed, ran wide and [Roy] Nissany went off in front of me. But the pace was right up there so I’m hoping for a better race three in which we can show our pace.’
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